Attaching means for timepiece dials



Q May 30, 1933. co o i 1,911,308

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA LS May 30, 1933. co o 1,911,308

ATTACHING MEANS FOR TIMEPIECE DIALS Filed Sept. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ za io 29 57 3 8 N 1/ a A TTORNE YS 5; za Sy B Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES HENRI COLOMB, OF TAVANNES, SWITZERLAND ATTACHING MEANS FOR TIMEPIECE DIALS Application filed September 6, 1930, Serial No. 480,211, and in Switzerland September 9, 1929.

This invention relates to attaching means for timepiece dials and more partcularly to devices for attaching the dial to the movement of the watch by means of dial feet projecting rearwardly from the dial to be secured to the movement plate of the watch.

In known constructions of this type the dial foot is secured to the movement by means of an eccentric rotatably mounted on the movement and which when turned is pressed into the relatively soft material of the dial foot to unite the dial and the movement. But the rotation of the eccentrio acts in tangential direction on the dial foot and has the tendency to scrape the material of the foot of instead of compressing it as would be desirable, so that, after the dial has been removed from the watch and replaced again for a few times, the foot is completely worn out and unfit for further use.

The object of the invention is to provide dial attaching means of the above mentioned type wherein an intermediary member is interposed between the dial foot and the eccentrio, this latter acting upon the intermediary member which is displaced at substantially right angles to the periphery of the foot. Preferably this intermediary member is made of a hard material such as stoel for instance, preventing that the eccentric Cuts into this member which itself acts upon the foot to compress the material of the foot and not to scour it.

The accompanying drawings illustrate various forns of construction of a device according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a dial plate attaching device,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through a modified device.

Figure 1 is a plan view thereof.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show each a plan view of a different modified arrangement.

Figures 8 and 9 are plan Views of a further modified arrangement showing the parts in two different working positions.

F igures 10 and 11 are plan Views of two further modifications.

In all constructions according to Figures 1 to 11 a spring is used as intermediary 4, nember between the ecoentric 'and the dial oot. a

Figure 12 is a plan view of another form of construction.

Figure 13 is a section along the line A-B 4 of Figure 12. Figure 14 is a plan view of a further form of construction.

Figure 15 is a section along the line C-D of Figure 14.

Figures 16 and 17 are plan Views of' two further modified attaching devices.

Figures 18 and 19 are vertical section and plan view of another modification.

Figures 20 and 21 are 'plan Views of a V further modified device in two different positions.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, l is the dial plate and 2 one of its feet which is to be securecl to the movement plate 3 upon which is mounted a bridge 4. The upper face of the plate 3, supporting the bridges of the watch, is provided with two circular recesses 5 and 6. The recess 6 receives the annular spring 8 and from its center a passage 7 leads to the lower face of the plate 3. The foot 2 of the dial 1 is introduced into this passage. The bottom of the recess 5 is provided with a central projection forming a pivot 9; An arbor 10 traverses an Opening in the bridge 4 and is provided with an eccentric shoulder 11 at its lower end which also presents a recess 12 to receive the pivot 9.

Before the dial foot is inserted into the passage 7, the spring 8 and the eccentric 11 occupy the position shown in Figure 2, the smallest radius of the eccentric being in contact with the spring so that the latter leaves the passage 7 unobstructed and the foot 2 can be inserted into the passage. To firmly attach the dial to the plate 3 it is then only necessary to turn the arbor 10, for instance by means of a screw driver inserted in the slot 13, so that the eccentric 11 acts upon the Springs forming the intermediary member between the. eccentric and the foot and which is slightly pressed into the material of the foot 2 in perpendicular direction to the periphery of the foot which is thus locked in the passage of the plate 3. To remove the dial itsu'lices to turn the eccentric until the spring S is out of engagement with the foot 2.

In the device shown in Figures 3 and -1 only one recess G is provided in the upper face of the plate 3 receiving the spring 8 and from which the pass-age 7 leads to the lower face of the plate. The pivot 14 forined by a rod prcssed into the plate 3 also projects from the recess 6. The eccentric 11 of the a. 'bor 10 turns about the pivot li wit-hin the recess 6.

In the modiications shown in Figures 7, S and 9 and in Figures 10 and 11, the interinediary member between the eccentric and the dial foot is formed by a spring 15 of any convenient shape and placed in a corresponding recess 16 of the movement plate In Figure the arbor is provided with a small hole 17 acting as index to indicate the position in which the eccentric frees or locls the foot.

In the construction of Figure (5 the smallest radius of the eccentric is indicated by a, levelled portion 18 of the arbor 10, and in Figure 'T by two levelled portions 19 forming a triangle. In Figures 8 and 9 a slot 32 indicates the smallest radius of the eccentric and a marker, for instance an arrow 33 placed on the surface of the bridge et cooperates with the slot to indicate the position into which the arbor 10 has to be turned to free the dial foot 2. In the embodimentshown in Figure 10 the eccentric 11 acts on the end of a spring and the foot 2 has a notch 20 provided therein to receive the spring. In figure 11 the spring 15 has the shape of an S.

An embodiment as shown in Figures 12 and 13 will be provided in such cases where it is not possible to place the eccentric adjacent the dial foot, when for example the place is occupied by other members of the watch. In such cases a groove 21 is provided in the movement plate 3 and a sliding gate 22 is engaged in the groove. One end of the gate 22 is levelled shown at 23 to form a. lmife edge penetrating into the foot 2 when the eccentric 11 is tightened. This end of the gate 22 could also be rounded instead of levelled and maintain the foot 2 by pressure only instead of cutting into it. The tog end of the foot 2 is provided with a levelled portion 2 1 which acts on the gate 22 when the foot is inserted into its passage to push the gate towards the eccentrio and permit full insertion of the foot into its passage.

In the modification shown in Figures 15 and 16 the sliding gate 22 is engaged in a groove of trapezoidal section and acts upon the dial foot 2 over the intermediary of a spring 30.

in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 16 the eccentric 11 acts upon an oscillating spring lever 25 mounted by means of a split ring 26 in a corresponding recess in the movement plate. Tightening of the eccentric applies the lever 25 on the foot 2. In Figure 17 a spring 27 is inserted between the lever 25 and the foot 2.

According to Figures 18 and 19 the top end of the arbor 10 has the shape of an inclined frustum of a cone. hen the arbor 10 is in its position in which the eccentric engages the dial foot a screw 28 is screwed into the movement plate 3 to engage with its head the bevelled portion of the arbor 10. The screw 28 is positioned in such a manner that, when the eccentric on the arbor 10 locks the dial foot, the most inclined side of the cone frustrum, which is the nearest to the aXis of the arbor, is in contact with the head of the screw 28 as shown in Fig. 18. The bevelled portion of the arbor constitutes an cccentric member, and the screw 28, which is in contact. with that. part of this member which has the smallest radius, prevents any accidental rot-ation of the arbor 10.

In the construction according to Figures 20 and 21 the eccentric 11 is provided with a projection 29 which is adapted to cooperate with a small pin 31 and with the spring 8 acting upon the dial foot 2. Fig. 21 shows the parts in the position in which the eccentric 11 presses the spring 8 into the dial foot, the projection 29 ,then abutting against the spring. For releasing the dial foot the ccentric 11 is turned in clockwise direction until the projection 29 abuts against the stop pin 31. hen elockwise rotation is thus stopped, and smallest radius of the eccentric is on the side of the dial foot and the spring 8 is released and moves out of engagement with the foot.

I claim 1. In a device for attaching a dial to a time piece novement having a movement platc and a bridge, the dial being provided with a foot projecting from the back of the dial into a passage formed in the movement plate, an arbor rotatably mounted on the movement plate and penetrating through the bridge an eccentric on said arbor, and a movable member interposed between said eccentric and said foot, the eccentric being adapted to act upon said movable member to force the member against the foot substantially at right angles to the periphery thereof, the eccentric being provided with a projection cooperating with a stop member on the movement plate and with said movable member to limit rotation of the eccentric.

2. In a. device for attaching a dial to a timepiece movement having a movement plate and a bridge, the dial being provided with a foot projecting from the back of the dial into a passage formed in the movement plate, an arbor rotatably nounted on the movement plate and penetrating through the bridge an eccentric on said arbor, and a movable member interposed between said eccentric and said foot, the eccentric being adapted to act upon said movable member to force the member against the foot substantially at right angles to the periphery thereof, and means for preventing rotation of the arbor when the arbor is in the position in which said eccentric acts upon the movable member.

3. In a device for attaching a dial to a V timepiece movement having a movement plate and a bridge, said dial being provided With a dial foot eXtending through the movement plate, a rotatable arbor penetrating an Opening in the bridge and being provided with an axial recess, an eccentric on said arbor, a pivot on the movement plate and extending into said axial recess, and a spring disposed between the eccentrie and the dial foot and adapted to be forced laterally against the dial foot by said eccentric upon rotation of the arbor to engage said dial foot, said pivot and said recess being situated substantially in the plane in which acts the side thrust exerted by said spring on a said eccentric upon rotation of the arbor.

4. In a device for attaching a dial to a timepiece movement having a movement plate and a bridge, said dial being provided with a dial foot extending through the movement plate, a rotatable arbor penetrating an Opening in the bridge and being provided with an axial recess, an eccentric on said arbor, a pivot on the movement plate and extending into said axial recess in the arbor, and a movable member disposed between the eccentric and the dial foot and adapted to be forced laterally against the dial foot by said eccentric upon rotation of the arbor to engage said dial foot, said pivot and said rer cess being situated substantially in the plane in which acts the side thrust exerted by said movable member on the eccentric upon rotation of said arbor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRI COLOMB. 

